The total adult population size is unknown but it is probably more than 100,000, and the population appears to be stable. It is abundant in suitable habitat in northern Wisconsin (Vogt 1981) and in other regions as well.

Habitats include bogs, cold lakes and ponds, and inlets and outlets of ponds and lakes, it occupies sphagnum mats and emergent vegetation (e.g. lily pads) in open water. It hibernates underwater. Eggs and larvae develop in permanent lakes and ponds.